Venezuelan gov't denounces attack on public radio station

The Venezuelan government on Thursday denounced the attack with Molotov cocktails on a Communication Ministry office and public radio studios in the western state of Zulia.

The attack on the office and the headquarters of YVKE Mundial radio came in the wee hours of Thursday, Communication Minister Delcy Rodriguez said.

"Violent people will not pull us off the path of peace!" she said on Twitter.

The minister did not specify the extent of the damage resulting from the attack.

Media outlets also reported the burning of two trucks and a bus in La Isabelica, in the central state of Carabobo.

The government and opposition representatives are scheduled on Thursday to begin a process of dialogue with the sponsorship of the Union of South American Nations and - apparently - The Vatican to find a way out of the ongoing violence the country has been experiencing since Feb. 12.

A wave of protests was launched on that day against the government of Nicolas Maduro and those demonstrations have, on occasion, devolved into acts of violence that have taken the lives of 39 people and resulted in more than 600 people being injured.

The fatalities have included both opponents and supporters of the leftist government as well as eight members of the security forces. EFE